STAFF at a Clitheroe factory beat colleagues across the country to a top safety award.

Employees at the 3M Neotechnic site, which manufactures aerosol valves and cans for the pharmaceutical industry, were set a target of working 1,120 days - 1.5 million man hours - without anyone losing time off due to accidents.

The workforce has since completed an extra 1,349 days towards the next target of 2,240 days. The Clitheroe site is the first 3M factory in the country to achieve the safety award.

Chief Executive John Mueller is pictured presenting a plaque to press operator Philip Hodgson, assembly operator Nick Pollard and toolmaker Eamon Boyle on behalf of the workforce.

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